IT WAS A DARK AND SPOOKY NIGHT.......

My niece needed a ride to the train station last night and I was happy to help her out. She was planning to be there about 10:00-10:30 P M. That was okay with me, although it bothers me that she reaches her destination at 3:00 o'clock in the morning. Last night we were blessed with rain, not a storm, not threatening, but a good steady rain. My problem was that it was very difficult to see through in the car, especially through the side windows. Hundreds of constantly occuring drops on the glass reflected the passing lights shining into my eyes and blurred everything. The water on the streets washed out the lines on the road. I was driving across town, in the city, and this shouldn't have been a big problem and generally isn't. We were traveling north on Redwood Road. I decided to move over into the right lane, for some reason, who knows what that was, and when I did this we were suddenly jolted and knocked about a good one. I knew there was always shoulder work being left undone along that road and fully expected to fall into a hole we wouldn't get out of. Plus, it's always shocking to have your car smacked about. But no harm done. I just said, " !!!# " And on we went, over an overpass that looked distorted to me, then to the jolly time of sorting through streets to find the one we were looking for. The problem here was, it's still raining, the street lighting was not good, and the streets at this point weren't straight. Islands and train tracks also ambled back and forth down the middle of the roads. In a normal city situation, even in the rain, this isn't a big deal because you can see lights and signs and whatever to keep you compassed. But by the time we got to the train station, we were surrounded by dark streets, and spooky dark buildings with no windows or doors, and no lettering at all. The only place I could to park was next to train tracks along the road. Luckily the station was well lit, but it only covers about half a block. I wonder, is this any place to put a public station? Keeps the waiting passengers from changing their minds and leaving, no doubt. You don't see anything but those dark buildings. It's like a very bad dream!!!

But, my little niece bravely unloaded her very large bags from my car and , huddled agains the rain, got herself down where her train was waiting.

Alone in my car, once again I drove down that awful street with no idea of where I was exactly, unable to see much more than a dim light at the end. The rain continued to come down. I eventually made my way back into town where this little scare faded away. I was stressed. I'm sorry I put such a damper on this girl's trip, but I also have realized that I am unable to be out driving around like that at night. I'm getting older for sure. Nonetheless, it is what it is....Life's Lesson 101.